FitsAir starts dedicated freighter service to cater to post-COVID cargo take-off

• Adds a P2C A321 to its cargo fleet
• Commences operations to Maldives and Dubai
• Expects to deploy additional services to ME and Indian subcontinent
• Expresses support to exporters
• Boosts transhipment volumes via Colombo

By Charumini de Silva

Sri Lankan privately-owned carrier FitsAir has started a dedicated freighter service to cater to post-COVID air cargo demand.To serve this purpose, FitsAir recently added a P2C A321 and converted it into a freighter and has concluded cargo flights to the Maldives and Dubai. The P2C A321 converted freighter aircraft can carry 20 tons within a five-hour range.

The airline expects to commence scheduled cargo flights to the several other Middle East and Indian subcontinent markets on demand.

FitsAir also expressed its unwavering support to the export community to reach its markets in the post-COVID era, while also strengthening the transhipment volumes via Colombo.

The airline said high payload characteristics of its A321F would definitely supplement its existing capacity on its ATR 72, which can carry up to 6.5 tons.

Formerly known as ExpoAir, FitsAir was the first and sole privately operated airline to be licensed for International Cargo Operations by Civil Aviation Authority Sri Lanka (CAASL) in the country and also obtained ‘Designated Cargo Carrier’ status from CAASL, enabling the airline to secure traffic rights into Indian and Chinese airports effortlessly. 

Similarly, it was also the first air carrier to be certified under the International Civil Aviation (ICAO) annex requirements, and also the first domestic airline to be certified by the Department of Civil Aviation to recommence flights to Jaffna in 2002.

In a ground-breaking feat, FitsAir was the first private airline to have been granted approval to hold its own ground-handling operations at the Bandaranaike International Airport. 

FitsAir also holds membership with the International Air Transport Association (IATA), a global organisation that represents major carriers from 117 countries that support aviation with global standards.